XL97: "Microsoft Excel Cannot Access..." Opening Excel File from Web Server

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you open a Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows file from a Web server, you may receive the following error message:

Microsoft Excel cannot access the file <URL>

• The file name or path does not exist



• The file you're trying to open is being used by another program. Close the document in the other program, and try again.



• The name of the workbook you're trying to save is the same as the name of another document that is read-only. Try saving the workbook with a different name.

http://WebServerName/filename

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the following conditions are true:

• You are using Microsoft Internet Information Server as your Web server.


-and-


• The Web server is using Basic (Clear Text) authentication to authenticate users.


-and-


• You are using a version of Microsoft Internet Explorer that is listed at the beginning of this article.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, obtain Microsoft Excel 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).

For additional information about SR-2, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q151261 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-2

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).

Additional query words: XL97 ie ie4 security ftp htp authenticate password verisign thawte inplace situ view intranet wininet threw exception IIS

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,4.01,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug